The most basic and obvious safety related practice would seem an OC permit.

To me, this means the place has been looked at, considered finished, or finished enough to be habitable without incident. I am being very liberal here and not 'splitting hairs' lest i entertain beuracratic opposition on the cost of this basic function.

Nope, i'll keep it simple heat, water,lights and some sort of 'contained' enviorment (i.e.-doors, windows..) to a finished and habitable degree.

My question is, how many states/countries actually have an OC process ?

In the county I live in, there is no inspection as to the building itself. The only requirement for permanent power is a sign off by the health department for septic system.Building permits are required for all new construction.No structural,electrical,plumbing or heat/ac inspect.In Ga. all three of these trades must be state licensed,but it is left up to each county to enforce its own area.As far as I know there is no statewide building contractor licensing.

There's no occupancy permit here. When "planning consent" is granted for a new home or for major renovations to an existing property, it will eventually have to be signed off by some official to show that all the requirements stated in that consent have been met. However, there's nothing that I'm aware of that says one can't live in the property in the meantime.

The only thing that can happen is that a local council can get an order to tell someone they can't stay if they consider that a property is unfit for human habitation. I've never heard of that being done except in very severe cases, such as where a building is so bad that it is served with a demolition order.

All in all, most people here, at least in this part of the country, work on the principle that you don't tell the local authorities anything if you don't have to. In other words, if some official driving by can't see what you're doing, you just go ahead and do it!

In NJ you need a Certificate of Occupency (CO) before you can move into a new building or an addition to your house.Some town have a CCO or Continuing Certificate of Occupency when 1 business moves out and another one moves in.

Do any of your state/county/city AHJs legally define what constitutes "living in" or "occupying" a property?

Clearly you are legally entitled to be physically present on your own land or in your own building. Where does that cross the border into occupancy? If you sit down in your unfinished building with a take-out from Taco Bell or wherever are you occupying it? What if you bring your sleeping bag and spend the night there?

If you start moving in furniture and storing it in an unfinished home, are you, yourself, occupying the building?

It seems to me that it would be quite hard to define the boundary here.

speaking for the state of Vermont only, there are some serious loopholes.

'Camps' which abound here are usually considered such via a 'permanent' resident status.

So it is arguable that one could reside in such for 364 days, and viola! have all tax assessment, septic concerns,potable water, etc, follow suit.

Any authority in my experience focuses on rental property here. As a former landlord i can see why they would, as there exists greater legal leverage for said authority to actually act on problems that may arise...

Did a rough-in once for a customer,the service was built,panel and breakers were installed,rough plumbing,septic installed.Was paying as he went from savings. He was unable to get loan to complete house.Poco put in perm. power. No switches receps or lites installed. WE went back and put blanks on everything.Btw no sheetrock.Tried, in front of 3 witnesses, to get him to sign a liability form. Refused!We took pictures of every room and the blank covers.He has been living there for 4 yrs, still not finished!Are we liable if he gets hurt tinkering with the wiring?

I'm no lawyer, but it seems to me that under the circumstances you took all reasonable steps to make sure the wiring was left in as safe a condition as possible, i.e. you convered up all exposed live connections. In fact, I'd say you probably took more than reasonable steps to protect people.

If someone comes along afterward and messes with it, that's his fault as far as I'm concerned.